“Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw. In the heat of an argument, don’t betray confidences; Word is sure to get around, and no one will trust you.
The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.
Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing! Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces. Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.”
Proverbs 25:8-15 MSG
http://bible.com/97/pro.25.8-15.msg
Proverbs 25 thru 29 are chapters written by Solomon but collected by King Hezekiah.
“There are also these proverbs of Solomon, collected by scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah. (Proverbs 25:1)
Solomon was writing these chapters some two hundred and fifty years prior to Hezekiah beginning his reign as king of Judah! Somewhere along the line some of the men who worked for Hezekiah came across these “Verbs” and read them. Apparently they thought enough of the wisdom found in them to preserve them. They are now being read thousands of years later by you. They still hold great meaning, for the lessons in them remain as powerful as ever.
Lessons learned and then passed on, are incredible sources of wisdom. There are many things that will carry on beyond our lives. Our words, stories, and writings are some of them. To this day, I can recall the many stories of my grandparents. Those stories passed wisdom on to us verbally.
Just a few months ago, my parents sent me some old church magazines from my home church, where my dad now Pastors. These magazines contain articles written by my grandparents. They tell the story of their salvation experiences, their faith in God, and many of the principles by which they lived. While reading them, I learned somethings I didn’t know and was reminded of a few things I had forgotten. The articles were from the 1950’s. Two of my grandparents have long since went to be with the Lord; however, the meaning and the power of their conversion and faith in God still spoke to me.
I am reminded that when the Prophet Elisha died, they put his body into a cave. Some time later a soldier died. His buddies put his body into the same cave as Elisha’s bones. When the soldier came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he was brought back to life and he came out of the cave. There was still power resting in Elisha long after his life had ended. May the same be true for you.
May your life’s story long out live you. May the experience and wisdom that you have gained in life, be a launching pad for generations to come.
May you strive to build your life, so that your family can start where you finished. In other words, may your children and grandchildren’s floors be your ceiling. Set them up for success. Don’t just talk big and wish you could have; instead, set out and do it. You’ll never know who you will affect!
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